Stopping and retaining device for chain or wire

ABSTRACT

A device on board a vessel for stopping and retaining either a link (2&#34;, 11&#34;) in a chain (2; 11) or a clamp on a wire, where the chain or wire is intended to be extended between the vessel and, e.g., an anchor, comprising a grip and stop fork (1) which is designed such that it may be brought up through the vessel deck (6) to engage with said chain link or wire clamp, and where the opening between the outer section of the fork teeth (1&#39;, 1&#34;) may optionally be closed off with a locking bolt or similar means. The fork (1) has a first, effective locking height (h 1 ) above the deck of the vessel, defined by the bottom (14) of the opening between the fork teeth and intended for a chain (2) lying within a first size range, and a second, effective locking height (h 2 ) above the vessel deck intended for chain (11) or wire lying within a second, smaller size range, said second locking height (h 2 ) being greater than said first locking height (h 1 ). The fork is moreover designed with guide members (12) and a shoulder (13) for the mounting and securing of a U-shaped insert piece (10) in the opening between the fork teeth, the bottom of said insert piece defining said second locking height.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of PCT Application No.PCT/NO96/00175, filed Jul. 11, 1996 and Norwegian Application No.952771, filed Jul. 12, 1995, which are incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device on board a vessel for stoppingand retaining either a link in a chain or a clamp on a wire, where thechain or wire is intended extend stretched between the vessel and, e.g.,an anchor, comprising a grip and stop fork which is designed such thatit may be brought up through the vessel deck to engage with said chainlink or wire clamp, and where the opening between the outer section ofthe fork teeth may optionally be closed off with a locking bolt orsimilar means.

A device of the type introduced above is known from, for example, DanishPatent No. 260004. A somewhat more comprehensive variant of this knowndevice is apparent from Norwegian Patent No. 152641.

Recently, however, a need has arisen for stopping and retaining devicescapable of handling chain or wire having a diameter in the range of upto about 170 mm. The same stoppers must also be utilizable for chain orwire of a dimension down to about 50 mm. For this to be possible, such adevice must not have too large a diameter, as a chain of smalldimensions would otherwise risk being drawn down into the guide tubeconduit of the stopping device. It is thus important that the distancebetween the teeth of the grip and stop fork be correctly gauged, andthat the depth of the opening between the teeth be great enough to allowspace for a chain having a diameter of 170 mm, and also that there besufficient space for a locking bolt at the free end of the fork teeth.

According to the invention, the device introduced above is characterizedin that the fork has a first, effective locking height above the deck ofthe vessel, defined by the bottom of the opening between the fork teethand intended for a chain lying within a first size range, and a second,effective locking height above the vessel deck intended for chain orwire lying within a second, smaller size range, said second lockingheight being greater than said first locking height, and that the forkis designed with guide members and a shoulder for the mounting andsecuring of a U-shaped insert piece in the opening between the forkteeth, the bottom of said insert piece defining said second lockingheight. According to further embodiments of the device, it isadvantageous that said guide members are tapered in the direction awayfrom said shoulder, and that the shoulder is spaced a distance above thebottom of the fork opening.

It is advantageous that the U-shaped insert piece be provided at thefree ends thereof with holes corresponding to axially arranged holes inthe teeth of the fork for the optional insertion of a locking bolt onthe insert piece.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to theenclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of the device, according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the device of FIG. 1 along the line II--II.

FIG. 3 shows the device according to the invention with the U-shapedinsert piece.

FIG. 4 is a view of the device of FIG. 3 along the line IV--IV.

FIG. 5 shows the device, according to the invention, being used with achain of large dimension and employing one type of towing pins.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of FIG. 5, wherein the device, according to theinvention, employs a second type of towing pins.

FIG. 7 shows the device, according to the invention, used with aU-shaped insert piece for smaller dimensions of chain.

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates an elevational view of a second embodiment of thepresent device;

FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1 is shown a grip and stop fork 1, with a chain 2 positioned infork 1, where the chain has a diameter of about 170 mm, so that thedistance d₁ between the fork teeth 1', 1" is equal to or slightlygreater than the maximum diameter of the chain. Fork 1 is designed sothat the horizontal chain link, as indicated by reference numeral 2' inFIGS. 5 and 6, will rest against grip and stop fork 1. Horizontal chainlink 2' will be prevented from twisting, inasmuch as the adjacentvertical chain link 2" is situated in the opening between fork teeth 1'and 1". The supported, vertically situated chain link 2" thus ensuresthat the horizontal chain link 2' is unable to twist to one side or theother about its longitudinal axis.

Grip and stop fork 1 is, at the outset, constructed such that chains ofa diameter in the range of 110 mm-170 mm will be stopped directlyagainst fork 1 without any U-shaped insert piece having been placedtherein, and at a lower height h₁ above the vessel deck than what wouldbe the case for chain or wire dimensions smaller than 110 mm.

Although it is described that the device, according to the invention,would be applicable for chains in the dimensional range of 110 mm-170mm, it will be immediately understood that the invention cannot beconsidered to be limited to this range of chain dimension, as the usewith chains of a somewhat larger dimension, or optionally a slightlysmaller dimension, would also be conceivable within the scope of theinvention.

When the vertical chain link 2" is situated between fork teeth 1' and11", it may optionally be advantageous to ensure that this chain linkdoes not move out of the fork. For this purpose, holes 3 and 3' areprovided in the fork teeth at the respective outer ends thereof for theinsertion of a locking bolt or the like (not shown).

In the embodiment in FIG. 5, the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 has beenprovided with raising and lowering capability in a vertical direction bymeans of a lifting mechanism 4, e.g., of the hydraulic type or of thenut/screw type.

Together with the device, according to the invention, the embodiment ofFIG. 5 is shown being used with a pair of known per se towing pins 5arranged in a stationary position on the vessel deck.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the tpwing pins aredesignated by reference numeral 7 and are designed as towing pins havingraising and lowering capability, and which cable pins are equipped withlocking members 8, or so-called "flaps," which rotate toward one anotherin order to lie over the opening between towing pins 7 when they are intheir uppermost position. The towing pins are provided with a raisingand lowering mechanism 9 which causes towing pin 7 to rotate at the sametime as the pins are raised or lowered. Such a raising and loweringmechanism as well as towing pins of this type having locking members areknown per se. Said locking members or "flaps" also prevent the chainfrom being drawn up over towing pins 7.

The device, according to the invention, will now be explained in moredetail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. This solution is intended tobe used for a chain of a smaller dimension, e.g., in the range of 50mm-105 mm, or optionally for wire having a diameter of up to 140 mm. Thestated dimensional ranges, however, should be regarded merely asguidelines and should not be perceived as a limitation to the scope ofthe invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, with the use of the device according to theinvention and a chain having the slightly smaller dimension in the rangeof, e.g., 50 mm-105 mm, it will be necessary to employ a U-shaped insertpiece 10, indicated by the shaded area in FIG. 3 and by a heavy brokenline in FIG. 4. If insert piece 10 should optionally be used inconnection with a wire, it would be possible to employ somewhat thinnerwalls on insert 10, allowing the dimension of the wire to be as great as140 mm.

As will be clearly apparent from FIG. 7, the bottom of the U-shapedinsert piece will be situated at a locking height H₂ above vessel deck6. The chain 11 or wire (not shown) within this range having smallerdimensions will consequently be lifted higher up over the deck, whichmust be regarded as a great advantage during normal anchor handling. Itwould particularly be advantageous to use the device, according to theinvention equipped with U-shaped insert piece 10, in connection with atowing pin arrangement 7, 8 and 9 as shown and described in connectionwith FIG. 6. The locking members, or said "flaps" 8, on towing pin 7would be closed over the wire or chain during, e.g., anchor handling.This would prevent the wire or chain from being drawn up from the deviceaccording to the invention, which could normally extend about 18-20 cmup above said locking members 8, as is indicated by the top part of FIG.7.

As shown and explained in connection with FIGS. 5 and 6, the horizontalchain link 11' will rest against fork 1 and its insert piece 10. Thevertical chain link or loop 11" will be situated between the arms ofsaid U-shaped insert piece, as indicated by FIG. 3. This allows thehorizontal chain link 11' to twist to a considerable degree, since it iswell supported against both fork 1 and its insert piece 10, as well asthe vertical chain member 11".

The U-shaped insert piece 10 engages with guide members 12 on fork 1,and these guide members 12, as indicated by FIG. 4, are tapered in thedirection away from a shoulder 13 situated above the bottom 14 of thefork opening.

To hold U-shaped insert piece 10 in place, mounting holes 15 and 16 areprovided in each of the fork teeth 1' and 1", into which holes may beinserted fixing screws (not shown) which optionally may threadablyengage with insert piece 10.

Further, said teeth 1' and 1" on fork 1 may be provided with axiallyarranged holes 17 and 17' for cooperation with an optional locking boltto prevent a chain or wire from moving completely out of insert piece10.

The distance between the two branches 10' and 10" on U-shaped insertpiece 10 is designated by D₂ and corresponds to the largest dimensionwithin the second, lower dimensional range for said chain or wire.

The device according to the invention for stopping and retaining a chainlink in a chain or a clamp on a wire may be constructed with ahorizontal cross-sectional dimension that is relatively small, e.g., inthe range of about 45-50 cm.

The device according to the invention thus displays the advantage ofpermitting two locking heights above the vessel deck, where the firstlocking height above the deck is provided by using a U-shaped insertpiece to lock a chain or wire with a diameter in the range of, e.g.,50-105 mm, or a specially designed U-shaped insert for only wire havinga dimension of up to about 140 mm. The lowest locking height above thevessel deck permits the locking of a chain having a diameter in therange of about 110-180 mm.

When we have a chain of large diameter and this chain is locked to fork1, there will be the shortest possible momentum arm for the forcesexerted on the forks. Moreover, the resistance momentum for the fork forthe cross-section that is under most stress in this instance is maximal.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the grip and stop fork 1 with the chain 2positioned in the grip and stop fork 1.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the grip and stop fork 1. The gripand stop fork 1 includes a wire 100 which goes through the fork 1. Oneend of the wire 100 forms a wire loop 110. The wire loop 110 is formedby adding a wire clamp 105 to that end of the wire 100.

When we have a chain or wire of a diameter in the range of, e.g., 50-105mm, alternatively up to 140 mm, there is provided an upper locking bedhaving a locking height of h₂, where the previously mentioned U-shapedinsert is mounted in an upper part of fork 1. This thereby provides agreater locking height above the vessel deck, which is a major advantagein regular anchor handling with chain or wire dimensions within therelevant range.

The U-shaped insert 10 is constructed so that there is little clearance,maximum 10 mm, between it and vertical chain link 11" that is supportedby means of the horizontal chain loop or link 11'. The forces that wouldseek to burst fork 1 are thereby reduced in considerable degree.

I claim:
 1. In a device on board a vessel having a vessel deck, forstopping and retaining either a link in a chain or a clamp on a wire,wherein the chain or wire is intended to extend between the vessel andan anchor, said device comprising:a grip and stop fork, said fork havinga pair of teeth with an opening therebetween, said opening having abottom, and wherein said fork may be brought up through said vessel deckto engage with said link or said clamp, and wherein said opening betweenmay optionally be closed off with a locking bolt; the improvementcomprising; said fork having a first effective locking height above saidvessel deck defined by said bottom of said opening and intended forretaining a chain or wire lying within a first size range; and said forkhaving a second effective locking height above said vessel deck intendedfor retaining a chain or wire lying within a second size range which issmaller than said first size range; said second locking height beinggreater than said first locking height, relative to said vessel deck;and wherein said fork includes a bottom and at least one guide memberfor mounting and securing a U-shaped insert in said opening between thefork teeth, said insert having a bottom defining said second lockingheight.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said insert bottom isspaced at a distance above said bottom of said fork opening.
 3. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said fork further includes a shoulderspaced at a distance above the said bottom of said fork opening.
 4. Adevice according to claim 3 wherein said guide member is tapered in adirection away from said shoulder.
 5. A device according to claim 1,wherein said fork teeth have holes axially arranged therein and saidU-shaped insert has free ends, said free ends provided with holescorresponding to said fork teeth holes for said optional insertion ofsaid locking bolt.